Internal wrench having simultaneously actuable pivoted jaws



J 1957 J. R. YOUNG, JR 2,800,043

INTERNAL WRENCH HAVING SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTUAB TED JAWS Original 0v. 22, 1954 LE PIVO Filed N Clo/4 B510 you/v Clea;

INVENTOR.

drmpwy INTERNAL WRENCH HAVING SIMUIJTANE- OUSLY ACTUABLE PIVOTED JAWS John Reid Young, Jr., Compton, Calif.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No; 47038 2, November 22, 1954. This-application January 9, 1956, Serial No. 558,053

9 Claims. (CI. 81-72) The present invention relates to the field of wrenches and more specifically to an internal wrench that is adapted to grip the interior surface of a tubular member to rotate same in either direction.

The present application is a substitute for my application Serial No. 470,282, filed November 22, 1954; and now abandoned.

Although in the past a great many tools have been devised and marketed for the purpose of engaging. the interior surfaces of pipes, tubes, plumbing fittings and other members having bores formed therein, these prior devices have a great many serious disadvantages which the present invention seeks to correct. For example,-it is a very common experience in the use of such devices for the tool to be moved axially out ofengagement with the tube or pipe sought to be turned whenever any substantial. torque is applied thereto. In such tools it is. a necessary condition of their use that along with the application of torque thereto an axially inward force also be applied to prevent slipping. Another disadvantage of the previously available devices is the fact. that most have not been capable of rotating a tube in both directions, and those that are capable of bi-directional rotation have generally not been adapted to so operate without first disassembling parts thereof to reverse same.

It is also a disadvantage of some of the conventional devices to be incapable of generating sufficient frictional contact so that when a rusted threaded joint or. the like is sought to be broken, the only effect of the torque applied to the tool is to cause the jaws thereof to slip on the interior surface of the member to he unscrewed. As will presently appear, these and other disadvantages are avoided in the present invention.

A majorobject of my invention is to provide an internal wrench which will grip the interior surface of a pipe: on fitting firmly and in such a way that the application of torque thereto'will not tend to cause any axial movement thereof so that the invention is operated solely. by rotation.

Another important object of the invention is to make available a'device of this character that is capable of bi directional use without any alteration, disassembly. or change thereof so that it is at all times ready for use in either screwing or unscrewing threaded members.

It is also an object of the invention to furnish an internal wrench whose jaws can be positively disengaged from biting connection with a surface so as to be easily withdrawn from a pipe or fitting.

The invention also has for an object the provision of a device of this type Whose jaws are urged into engagement with a surface immediately upon initial rotation thereof so'that any preliminary slipping is avoided.

The invention also provides. an internalwrench of simple, rugged construction that'is economical to manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of the. presently preferred formand certain variations thereof States Patent C) and'from the annexed drawing illustrating those forms in which:

Figure 1- is a plan view, partly in longitudinal section, ofthe invention in use;

Figure 2 is-a plan view of the actuating means of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view'of the device taken ontheline 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an exploded view illustrating all of the component parts of the device of Figure 1, excepting a housingE;

Figure 5 is a partial, transverse cross-sectional view of ail-alternate form of my invention; and

Figure-6 is a partial, transverse cross-sectional view of a second alternate formof the invention.

Referring now to the drawing for the general arrangement of the invention and in particular to Figures 1 to 3 thereof, it will be'seen that a sleeve, designatedgenerally by the letter A in Figure 3, has a circularly'or annularly grouped plurality of similar jaw means C rotatably mounted thereon. Sleeve A is mounted on an actuating member B' in such a way that it is axially immovable relative thereto but can be rotated a limited distance thereon;

Referring to Figure 2, it can be seen that actuating member B has an intermediate cylindrical portion of re.- duced diameter on which the sleeve designated as A in Figure 3 is intended to be' mounted so that an inner end portion 10 of member B of triangular cross section is concentrically disposed relative to said annularly grouped jawmeans C. At its other or outer end' portion 13, member B is of square cross-section in order that an ordinary wrench or the like may be connected'tliereto'to turnsaid member.

Itwill-be noted in Figure 3 that inner portion 10 of member B contacts each of jaw means C in such away that initial rotation of said actuating member in either direction causes-said jaw means to rotate in unison; Rotationof said jaw means causes anedge portion'of each to be moved substantially radially outwardly intoforceful: engagement with a surrounding cylindrical surface, such-as the interior surface of the tube D shown in Figure 1. Continued rotation of member B is then translated into rotation of said tube to tighten or loosen said tube on a connected tube (not shown), as the case may be. Since it is desirable to-hold said sleeve'relatively motionless during initial rotation of actuating member B so that jaw means C canmove into engagement with the surrounding'cylindrical surface Without slippage, means such as ahousing, designated generally by the'letter'E in" Figure 1 areprovided for this purpose.

The relationship and structure of these elements will be more fully'defined in the following detailed description.

As will be apparent, sleeve A and housing E could be fabricated as an integral unit but are preferably sepaassembly and disassembly of the device.

tially spaced slots formed in one end thereof" that are adapted toreceive said jaw means in annularly spaced relationship, as is best seen in Figure 3'. For the present instance, three such slots and three corresponding arcuat'e segments are shown but, as is obvious, a greater or lesser numberof jaw" means could be provided for and the device would'be operative;

Referring now to Figure 1, it can'be seen that adjacent to said'arcuate segments (as is best shown in Figure 4) sleeve A- develops intoan annular shoulder, the-portion of sleeve A from which said arcuate segments extend being. of. greater diameter than the rest ofv said' sleeve. As depicted in Figure 1, said reduced diameter portion" of "said sleeve is enclosed in an end portion of housing E,

In each of said end slots of said sleeve an axially disposed stud is rigidly fastened thereto and on each such stud one of said jaw means C is rotatably mounted. Each jaw C has a radially outermost surface that is truncated relative to the radially inwardly extending substantially cylindrical surface thereof, when viewed as in Figure 3, so that said jaw has first and second edge portions that are oppositely and symmetrically disposed relative to said studs. It will be seen that due to the truncated configuration of jaw C, said jaw can be disposed in a neutral position wherein both said'first and second portions will be equally remote from a surrounding cylindricalsurface, with the normal radial distance between said outermost surface of said jaw and the axis of said sleeve being less than the distance between the surrounding cylindrical surface and said 'axis of said sleeve. Upon rotation of said jaw in either direction, one or the other of said first and second edge portions will be moved radially outwardly from sleeve A into engagement with a surrounding'cylindrical surface, The inwardly disposedsurface of each jaw C substantially midway between said first and second edge portions has a longitudinallyextending notch formed therein whereby said jaws can be rotated in a manner presently to be described.

r The internal diameter of sleeve A is such as to slidably receive therein the aforementioned intermediate cylindrical portion of member B. Said intermediate portion has an enlarged hole or circumferentially extending slot 22 formed therein, as is shown in Figure 2, which is adapted to receive an endof a threaded pin 12 fastened to threaded hole 21 of sleeve A. Said enlarged hole or slot maintains said sleeve axially in position on member B and permits limited rotation of said sleeve on said member. When sleeve A is'thus positioned on said intermediate portion, inner end portion '10 of said member is disposed at the centerof said circularly grouped jaw means C, in the manner shown in Figure 3.

As Figure 3 shows, inner portion is triangularly shaped in transverse cross-section and has three apex' portions 11. As viewin Figure 3, actuating member B has been initially rotated in counter-clockwise direction while sleeve A is held stationary, in a manner presently to be set forth. Upon such initial rotation, since apex portions :11 engage said center slots on the inward surfaces of each jaw means C,"said jaw means are caused to rotate in unison in clockwise direction, thus forcing said first edge portion of each jaw means C outwardly. It will be evident that said first and second edge portions of. said jaw means could be serrated as in Figure 5, or that. the rotation of said jaw means could be caused by conventional gear means'as in Figure 6.

As Figure 3 shows, an axially disposed bore is formed in inner 'end portion 10' of member B. Said bore is threaded to receive the threaded stem of a cap screw 9, shown in Figure 4, after washer ltl, shown in Figure 4,

has been placed over the ends of said arcuate segments of sleeve A. The jaw means of the invention are held together in assembled relationship.

Housing E that is shown in Figure 1 is a tubular memthus ber of such internal diameter as to be slidably disposable on the exterior surface of said reduced diameter portion of sleeve A with an end of said housing abutting said annular shoulder of said sleeve. .A threaded bore 31 is formed in said housing that is adapted to receive a pin 30 engaging a hole 32 in sleeve A so that housing E is rotatably immovable on said sleeve. Said housing extends toward outer end portion 13 of actuating member B far enough so that when the device is inserted into tube D, it protrudes sufficiently to afford a hand hold whereby when a wrench is placed on outer end portion 13 of member B to initially rotate same, sleeveA is held motionless whereby jaw means C rotate into engagement with the interior surface of tube D.

. The extremely simple manner of use of my invention is obvious from the foregoing description thereof. The

tional engagement with the interior surface of tube D,,

while the holding of housing E by one hand prevents rotation of sleeve A during such initial rotation so that no slipping of jaw means C takes place. Further rotation of actuating member B causes the desired rotation of tube D. 1

When the force of the frictional engagement of jaw means C with tube D exceeds the manually exerted force holding sleeve A against rotation, said sleeve will rotate in unison with member B carrying jaws C in circular movement therewith (as contrasted to the rotational movement of jaw means C during initial rotation of member B). Since the resultant force at jaw means C is primarily radially outward, any increase in torque applied to member B will tend to increase the force with which tube D is grasped by jaw means C, and consequently there is no danger of slippage of said jaw means. It will be noted that the direction of rotation of tube D may be reversed merely by reversing the direction of torque applied to member B.

Although the forms of the invention herein shown and described are fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that they are'merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment thereof and that I do not mean to limit myself to the details of construction herein shown and described other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An internal wrench for removably engaging the interior surface of a tube to rotate same that comprises: a rigid member adapted to be freely insertable within said tube; a plurality of annularly grouped jaw means rotatably mounted on said member and co-revolvable therewith, each of said means having a portion thereof that 'upon rotational movement of said means is moved radially outwardly into frictional engagement with the interior surface of said tube; means to actuate said jaw means so that upon initial rotation of said actuating means said jaw means are rotated in unison to move said portions thereof .into simultaneous forceful engagement with the interior surface of said tube whereupon continued rotation of said actuating means is imparted to said tube during circular movement of said jaw means, and means to permit relative rotation between said actuating means and said member during the initial rotation of said actuating means 2. An internal wrench for removablyengaging the interior surface of a tube for clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of same that comprises: a rigid member adapted to be freely insertable within said tube; a plurality of annularly grouped jaw means rotatably mounted on said member and co-revolvable therewith,-

outwardly into a second position of said means in which said second portion frictionally engages the'interior surface of said tube for clockwise rotation of same; and means to actuate said jaw means so that upon initial rotation of said actuating means said jaw means are' rofelted in unison to said first position whereupon continued rotation of said actuating means causes counterclockwise rotation of said member and upon initial rotation of said actuating means in the opposite direction said jaw means are rotated in unison to said second position whereupon continued rotation of said actuating means causes clockwise rotation of said member, whereby the tube is rotated due to the frictional engagement of the jaw means with the tube and the subsequent revolving of said jaw means with said member.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 characterized further by the fact that said device has means to permit relative rotation of said actuating means and said member during the initial rotation of said actuating means.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which each of said jaw means comprises an integrally rigid member whose center of rotation is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said tube and member with said first and second portions thereof being substantially symmetrically disposed relative to said center in such a way that one of said portions is in radially outward tube-engaging position and the other of said portions is radially withdrawn from tube-engaging position.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 in which said actuating means includes an elongate rigid member having an outer portion that protrudes from said tube when said jaw means are placed therein so that torque can be applied to said outer portion and having an inner portion that is concentrically disposed between said annular group of jaw means; and means to translate the initial rotation of said actuating means into rotation of said jaw means.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 in which said motion translation means comprises gear-like means formed on contacting surfaces of said jaw means and actuating means.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 in which said actuating means has a cylindrical portion intermediate its ends in which a circumferentially elongate slot is formed; said member on which said jaw means are mounted comprises a slidable sleeve on said intermediate portion of said actuating means, said sleeve having a bore formed therein that is adapted to be positioned over said slot; and a pin connected to said bore of said sleeve and which extends inwardly into said slot to prevent axial movement of said sleeve relative to said actuating means and to limit rotational movement of said sleeve on said actuating means in order to limit rotation of said jaw means.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 in which an elongate tubular housing is concentrically mounted on said sleeve and extends toward said outer portion of said actuating means, said housing being rigidly connected to said sleeve for rotational movement in unison therewith and being sufficiently long so that when said jaw means are inserted in said tube, a portion of said housing protrudes out of said tube and can be held to prevent rotation of said sleeve during the initial rotation of said actuating means'to cause said jaw means to be rotated into engagement with the interior surface of said tube.

9. An internal wrench for removably engaging the interior surface of a tube and selectively operable for rotating the tube in either direction, said internal wrench comprising: an elongate rigid handle member adapted to be freely insertable within the tube; a plurality of annularly grouped jaw means each having first and second outwardly extending portions thereof respectively adapted to control rotation of the tube in a corresponding direction, said jaw means being rotatably mounted upon one end of said handle member, co-revolvable therewith, and being operable upon rotation thereof with respect to said handle member to move a corresponding one of said outwardly extending portions into frictional engagement with the interior surface of the tube; jaw actuating means associated with said handle member and including an outer portion to which rotational torque can be applied when said jaw means are placed within the tube, and an inner portion that is concentrically disposed within said annular group of jaw means, said jaw actuating means being operable upon initial rotation thereof relative to said handle member to rotate said jaw means in such a direction as to engage the interior surface of the tube so that continued rotation of said jaw actuating means is imparted via said jaw means to the tube; and means initially permitting rotation of said jaw actuating means relative to said handle member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 705,724 Upson July 29, 1902 869,861 Alspaugh Oct. 29, 1907 1,535,534 McDonald et al. Apr. 28, 1925 2,675,724 Beyer Apr. 20, 1954 

